Property worth Rs. 20 million has been damaged in a fire that broke out at Ranke bazaar on the border between Ilam and Jhapa last night.
The house of local resident Thaluram Shrestha in Deumai municipality-1 caught fire and three shops located in the house along with the goods inside them were burnt to ashes. Preliminary investigation shows that the fire many have been originated from an electric short circuit.
The fire that began at 8 pm was put out at 11 pm with the help of a fire tender from Phidim municipality of neighboring Paanchthar district. Local residents and security personnel helped to contain the fire.
Ranke bazaar is located on the Mechi Highway and the bazaar had caught fire in a similar incident two years ago, in which some houses were gutted.